Cebu Pacific bringing in 7 jets this year

MANILA, Philippines — Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific is far from being done with its short-term expansion, as the airline plans to add seven aircraft to its fleet in 2025 to keep up with demand.

Cebu Pacific is ending the year with a fleet of 99 jets made up of 91 for commercial operations, five belonging to AirSWIFT Transport Inc. and three listed as inactive.

The airline owned by the Gokongweis would have reached the 100 mark had it achieved its goal of receiving 18 aircraft this year.

Instead, Cebu Pacific added 17 aircraft to its fleet in 2024 – one short of the target – but still the airline stood out as the most aggressive among domestic carriers. And Cebu Pacific plans to keep it that way next year, when it is scheduled to bring in at least seven jets.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Alexander Lao said the airline is keeping its foot on the gas despite the milestones it achieved in 2024. Further, Cebu Pacific needs all the aircraft it can get to serve its growing base in the country and overseas.

“(Our) last delivery for 2024 takes us to 99 aircraft, including the five turboprops of AirSWIFT, and we are expecting seven deliveries in 2025,” Lao told The STAR.

Cebu Pacific welcomed its final delivery for 2024 last week, an Airbus A321neo with 236 seats, wrapping up what turned out to be an eventful year for the airline.

This year saw Cebu Pacific reaching new heights, culminated by the signing of a firm order for 152 aircraft with Airbus, estimated to cost $24 billion, the largest in Philippine aviation.

Moreover, Cebu Pacific bought out AirSWIFT from the Zobels for P1.75 billion, allowing Cebu Pacific to penetrate El Nido at last. The acquisition also added five turboprops to Cebu Pacific’s fleet that can be assigned to regional routes.

The biggest domestic carrier by passenger size also expanded its international footprint by going into Chiang Mai, making it the lone carrier offering Manila flights to the Thai city. By Jan. 16, 2025, Cebu Pacific will also begin operating Manila trips to Sapporo.

To date, Cebu Pacific manages one of the youngest fleets in the world with 10 A330s, 40 A320s. 26 A321s and 15 turboprops.